Innovative Approach to Early Lung Cancer Detection: Integrating a Comprehensive Screening Program and an Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Early detection strategies include LC screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) and incidental pulmonary nodule clinics (IPNCs). This study describes the structure, workflow, and outcomes of an integrated early diagnosis strategy combining LCS and IPNCs.

Material and methods

We conducted a descriptive analysis of a prospective observational study (May 2023-June 2025) implementing an integrated IPNC-LCS model. All IPNC patients underwent initial LC-risk assessment: highly suspicious lesions were referred to a fast-track diagnostic pathway, low-risk patients to primary care (PC), and high-risk individuals to the LCS program. Additional referrals to the LCS program were received from pulmon

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Cuco A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12796536 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan-Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature